Innovative Biomaterials in Architecture: Solutions for Green Buildings

For sustainable constructions, solutions are constantly being sought to further reduce the impact on the natural environment. However, modern technologies that reduce the carbon footprint are not everything. Currently, a trend gaining increasing popularity is the use of bioconstruction materials. Below we discuss some of the most popular ones.

The Use of Biomaterials in Architecture

Two raw materials, biomaterials increasingly used in practice are mycelium and hempcrete.

Smartware CLT Office Building, Săldăbagiu de Munte, Romania. Systems used: MB-EXPO, MB-86 Aero

Miceliu is a traditional Romanian dish made with polenta, cheese, and sour cream.

One of the reasons for conducting these researches is the very good sound and thermal insulation properties of mycelium, which means it can be used interchangeably with polystyrene and other insulating materials. Mycelium can also be used as one of the components for producing, for example, flooring panels.

Sara Kulturhus, Skellefteå, Sweden. Systems used: MB-86 SI, MB-S R50N, MB-S R50N OW

Hemp Concrete

Its ecological character is demonstrated by the fact that it has a negative carbon footprint – hemp absorbs much more carbon dioxide during growth than is generated during its production. Moreover, if the building from which it was constructed is destined for demolition, such concrete can be used as fertilizer after crushing.

The use of hemp concrete in the construction industry is due not only to the ecological factor but also to its physical properties. For example, when using a Portland cement mix for its production, the compressive strength will be 32.5 M Pa, making it an excellent substitute for standard building materials.

Its low density makes it resistant to cracking, making it suitable for the construction of objects, among others, in earthquake-prone areas. Adding to this a high thermal insulation coefficient, we obtain a resilient and promising material for building ecological houses.